Palace welcomes China’s move to discuss code of conduct in South China Sea

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 4): Palace welcomes China’s move to discuss code of conduct in South China Sea
 
Malacanang welcomed China’s latest statement on its willingness to hold discussions for the possible crafting of a Code of Conduct in the South China Seaamid continuing tensions in the area.

In a press briefing in Malacanang on Thursday, Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said he can not speculate on China’s intention to spearhead low-level discussions to resolve the dispute but he said it is a welcome development.

“It’s a forward step with Chinaagreeing to at least discuss the Code of Conduct with us. We already drafted the Code of Conduct, and now we have asked them to discuss it with us, and China has already said that they are discussing with us. And so this is a step in the right direction,” Lacierda said.

After years of rejecting efforts to start talks for a Code of Conduct with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), China has agreed to host talks between senior officials this coming September.

But the code would not touch on the territorial claims but would set rules for actions by ships, aimed at minimizing the risk of missteps that could lead to hostilities.

The discussions, to be held in China, was described as “consultations” rather than “negotiations”.

Asean and China ministers met in Brunei this week for a security forum that tackled the tension in the West Philippine Sea.

The US, an ally of the Philippines and Vietnamsaid it is not taking sides on the issue but said that its strategic interest is the freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.

 The UShopes that the Asean and Chinaagree on a valid Code of Conduct soon.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=541061